Split discharge system for washing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A system for supplying selectively, steam, hot water with or without detergent, or cold water, at various volumes from a source of water and a source of liquid detergent. A pair of independently operated pumps cooperate with a system of conduits, valves, and a boiler, to provide fluid at various predetermined temperatures and volumes to a point of delivery, such as washing apparatus.

Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,817,272 Finger June 18, 1974 [54] SPLIT DISCHARGE SYSTEM FOR 3,714,960 2/1973 Yamada 137/340 WASHING APPARATUS 3,720,226 3/1973 Minich, Jr. et a1. 3747,333 7/1973 Gershmann et al 137/341 John F. Finger, Beresford, S. Dak.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Sioux Steam Cleaner Corporation,

Beresford, S. Dak.

[22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 313,457

[52] US. Cl. ..137/334 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 49/00 [58] Field of Search 137/334, 340, 341, 3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,948,277 8/1960 Dennis 137/334 X 3,481,350 12/1969 Chamberlain 137/334 3,687,156 8/1972 Minich, Jr. et a1. 137/334 Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney, Agent, or FirmMerc:hant, Gould, Smith & Edell 57] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure SPLIT DISCHARGE SYSTEM FOR WASHING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An important object of this invention is the provision of a liquid supply system which can be quickly and easily arranged to provide steam or hot water at various temperatures, with or without detergent and at different volumes, or cold water at low or high volumes, all by adjustment of a few control valves.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a system which can produce steam or hot or cold water at various volumes without substantial reduction in pressure in the system.

To the above ends, the present system involves a supply source of liquid such as water, a source of liquid detergent, a boiler for heating water and generating steam, a pair of discharge conduits one of which delivers water to the boiler, a pair of pumps delivering water from the liquid supply source to the discharge conduits, and conduit connections and valves for controlling the movement of water and detergent through the discharge conduits. An injector is used to supply liquid detergent from the detergent supply source to the discharge conduit connected to the boiler. Pressure regulator valves operatively associated with the pumps return excess water to the source thereof, when low volume of liquid is demanded at the point of delivery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The single view is a schematic diagram of the split discharge system of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the diagram, a liquid source is shown as being in the nature of a water tank 1 having connected thereto a pair of discharge conduits 2 and 3 in which are interposed first and second pumps 4 and 5 respectively. Washing liquid, such as water, is supplied to the tank 1 from a city water main or the like, not shown, through a pipe 6 and a conventional float controlled valve 7. A pair of return pipes 8 and 9 are connected to the discharge conduits 2 and 3 respectively, downstream from their respective pumps 4 and 5, and are provided with respective pressure regulator or relief valves 10 and 11 to provide for return of water to the tank 1 when pressure in the discharge conduits 2 and 3 exceeds a predetermined limit.

The first discharge conduit 2 has interposed therein a heating coil 12 that comprises a portion of a conventional boiler 13 that is fired by suitable means, such as a conventional gas burner or the like 14. Downstream from the boiler 13, a discharge valve 15 is interposed in the discharge conduit 2.

Intermediate its connection to the return pipe 8 and the boiler 13, the first discharge conduit 2 is provided with a control valve 16 for regulating the volume of water flowing through the conduit 2. A conventional fluid injector, indicated generally at 17, is interposed in the discharge conduit 2 between the control valve 16 and the return pipe 8, the injector 17 being provided with a detergent feed conduit 18 that is connected to a liquid detergent supply tank 19. A detergent control valve 20 is interposed in the detergent feed conduit 18. A second detergent feed conduit 21, provided with a control valve 22, is connected at one end to the detergent feed conduit 18 .and, at its other end to the first discharge conduit 2 between. the pump 4 and supply tank 1, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

The second liquid discharge conduit 3 is provided, downstream of its connection to the return pipe 9, with a second discharge valve 23. A crossover conduit 24 is connected at one end to the first discharge conduit 2 between the control valve 16 and boiler 13, and at its other end to the second discharge conduit 3. between its connection to the return pipe 9v and discharge valve 23, the crossover conduit 24 being provided with a shutoff valve 25. A shunt or bypass conduit 26, provided with a shunt control valve 27, is connected at one end to the discharge conduit 2 between the pump 4 and injector l7, and at its other end to the crossover conduit 24. between its connection to the discharge conduit 2 and the shutoff valve 25. In the drawing, the discharge ends of the discharge conduits 2 and 3 are shown as being broken off. However, it may be assumed that the conduits 2 and 3 extend to washing apparatus, such as car washing mechanism, or a system of nozzle-equipped wands for discharging water or steam for the purpose of cleaning automotive vehicles, machine parts and the like.

MODES OF OPERATION ltiwill be appreciated that the pumps 4 and 5 arelike in capacity and structure, being of the constant pres sure constant delivery type. Hence, when either pump 4 or 5 is prevented, by manipulation of any one or more of the valves, to move liquid beyond the discharge valves 15 and 23, the water pumped thereby will be returned to the tank 1 through a respective one of the pressure regulator or relief valves 10 and 11. It will be further appreciated that the boiler 13, with its burner 14, is so constructed that it will generate steam when supplied with water from only one of the pumps 4 or 5 during an open condition of the discharge valve 15. When both of the pumps 4 and 5 are supplying water to the boiler 13 simultaneously, the boiler 13 will provide hot water at a temperature of approximately F.

When it is desired to clean an object with the use of steam and detergent only, the valves 22, 23, 25 and 27 are closed, and the valves l5, l6 and 20 are opened. In this condition of the system, the pump 4 will force water through the injector 17 which will draw liquid detergent from the tank 19, the mixture of water and liquid detergent being delivered through the discharge conduit 2 and coil 12 at a rate of speed which will generate steam which will be discharged through the discharge valve 15. i

In view of the fact that the injector l7 limits the volume of liquid flowing through the discharge conduit 2, the bypass or shunt conduit 26 is needed to provide sufficient liquid to the boiler 13 to provide a hot water and detergent mixture at the valve 15. By opening the valve 27, a sufficiently greater amount of water is delivered from the pump 4 to the boiler 13 to provide water at this arrangement, the pump cooperates with the pump 4 to deliver a high volume of water to the boiler 13. If a greater amount of liquid detergent is needed to compensate for the added volume supplied by the pump 5, the valve 22 is opened so that liquid detergent flows through the detergent pipe 21 as well as through the valve 20, to enrich the detergentwater mixture fed to the boiler 13. Obviously, when both pumps 4 and 5 are delivering water to the boiler 13, the heated water flowing outwardly through the valve will be at a somewhat lower temperature. However, this can be compensated for by regulating the burner 14 by any suitable and well-known means, either manually or automatically controlled.

When a cold temperature wash is desired, it is only necessary to close valves 15, 22 and 27 and open valves 16, 20, 23 and 25. With the valve 15 closed, there will be no flow of water through the boiler 13 and only a cold water and detergent mixture will be discharged through the discharge valve 23. By opening valve 27, the full capacity of the pump 4 will be added to that of the pump 5, and a greater volume of water 'and detergent mix will be available at the valve 23. As with the hot water detergent mixture above described, the cold water wash mixture may be enriched with liquid detergent by opening the valve 22. When it is desired to provide a cold water rinse without detergent, the valve 23 is opened and all other valves 15, 16, 20, 22, 25 and 27 are closed. Thus, only the pump 5 will be supplying cold water to the discharge valve 23. By opening valves 25 and 27, the supply of cold rinse water, minus detergent, delivered to the valve 23 will be doubled, inasmuch as the output of pump 4 is added to that of pump 5.

With the above-described structure, it will be seen that various combinations of steam, hot or cold water, with or without detergent, and at different volumes, may be obtained by manipulation of different ones of the valves of a simple and inexpensive discharge system. While I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my split discharge system for washing apparatus, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit andscope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A split discharge system for washing apparatus comprising:

a. a water supply source;

b. a liquid detergent supply source;

c. a boiler;

d. independently operating first and second pumps having inlets independently connected to said water supply source and outlets;

e. first and second discharge conduits connected to the outlets of said first and second pumps respectively;

f. said boiler being interposed in said first discharge conduit to heat the liquid in said first discharge conduit;

g. means for delivering liquid detergent from said detergent supply source to said first discharge conduit;

h. a crossover conduit connecting said second discharge conduit with said first discharge conduit between said first pump and said boiler;

i. and valve means associated with said conduits and operative to admit liquid to said discharge conduits from either or both of said pumps selectively, whereby to effect discharge of steam, and high and low volume hot water selectively, and with and without detergent selectively from said first discharge conduit, and to effect discharge of high and low volume selectively of cold water from said second discharge conduit.

2. The split discharge system defined in claim 1 in which said means for delivering liquid detergent to said first discharge conduit includes an injector in said first discharge conduit, a detergent conduit connected to said detergent supply source and to said injector. and a detergent control valve in said detergent conduit.

3. The split discharge system defined in claim 2 in which said injector is disposed between said first pump and the connection of said crossover conduit to said first discharge conduit.

4. The split discharge system defined in claim 1 in which said valve means includes a control valve in said first discharge conduit between said injector and the connection of said cross-over conduit to said first discharge conduit.

5. The split discharge system defined in claim 4 in further combination with a shunt conduit connected at one end to said first discharge conduit between said first pump and said injector and at its other end operatively connected to said first discharge conduit between said control valve and said boiler.

6. The split discharge system defined in claim 5 in which said other end of the shunt conduit is connected to said cross-over conduit, said valve means including a shutoff valve in said shunt conduit.

7. The split discharge system defined in claim 6 in which said valve means further includes a crossover valve in said cross-over conduit between the connections of said crossover conduit to said shunt conduit and said second discharge conduit.

8. The split discharge system defined in claim 7 in which said valve means includes first and second discharge valves in said first and second discharge conduits respectively and respectively disposed downstream from said boiler and from the connection of said crossover conduit with said second discharge conduit. 

1. A split discharge system for washing apparatus comprising: a. a water supply source; b. a liquid detergent supply source; c. a boiler; d. independently operating first and second pumps having inlets independently connected to said water supply source and outlets; e. first and second discharge conduits connected to the outlets of said first and second pumps respectively; f. said boiler being interposed in said first discharge conduit to heat the liquid in said first discharge conduit; g. means for delivering liquid detergent from said detergent supply source to said first discharge conduit; h. a crossover conduit connecting said second discharge conduit with said first discharge conduit between said first pump and said boiler; i. and valve means associated with said conduits and operative to admit liquid to said discharge conduits from either or both of said pumps selectively, whereby to effect discharge of steam, and high and low volume hot water selectively, and with and without detergent selectively from said first discharge conduit, and to effect discharge of high and low volume selectively of cold water from said second discharge conduit.
 2. The split discharge system defined in claim 1 in which said means for delivering liquid detergent to said first discharge conduit includes an injector in said first discharge conduit, a detergent conduit connected to said detergent supply source and to said injector, and a detergent control valve in said detergent conduit.
 3. The split discharge system defined in claim 2 in which said injector is disposed between said first pump and the connection of said crossover conduit to said first discharge conduit.
 4. The split discharge system defined in claim 1 in which said valve means includes a control valve in said first discharge conduit between said injector and the connection of said cross-over conduit to said first discharge conduit.
 5. The split discharge system defined in claim 4 in further combination with a shunt conduit connected at one end to said first discharge conduit between said first pump and said injector and at its other end operatively connected to said first discharge conduit between said control valve and said boiler.
 6. The split discharge system defined in claim 5 in which said other end of the shunt conduit is connected to said cross-over conduit, said valve means including a shutoff valve in said shunt conduit.
 7. The split discharge system defined in claim 6 in which said valve means further includes a crossover valve in said cross-over conduit between the connections of said crossover conduit to said shunt conduit and said second discharge conduit.
 8. The split discharge system defined in claim 7 in which said valve means includes first and second discharge valves in said first and second discharge conduits respectively and respectively disposed downstream from said boiler and from the connection of said crossover conduit with said second discharge conduit. 